Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sidi Bel Abbes Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sidi Bel Abbes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $541 in Sidi Bel Abbes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $889 in Sidi Bel Abbes, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,236 in Sidi Bel Abbes, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Sidi Bel Abbes, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chiang Mai and Sidi Bel Abbes are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Sidi Bel Abbes 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$2.38 DZD 318

-12.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$21.59 DZD 2,883

-9.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$4.00 DZD 535

41.75%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$0.37 DZD 49.78

389.19%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ฿25.65

$0.64 DZD 86.0

20.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.26 DZD 34.33

34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$1.76 DZD 235

25.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.04 DZD 406

24.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.01 DZD 135

102.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.09 DZD 12.16

1577.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.06 DZD 141

32.08%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.60 DZD 214

41.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$9.99 DZD 1,334

62.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.31 DZD 576

-32.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$13.82 DZD 1,847

-31.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$2.71 DZD 363

-1.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.41 DZD 322

-54.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.46 DZD 195

10.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$0.45 DZD 60.1

224.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.34 DZD 45.92

276.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.64 DZD 85.8

65.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.66 DZD 88.7

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$0.37 DZD 48.88

43.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$1.91 DZD 255

121.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$10.22 DZD 1,365

78.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$2.26 DZD 302

-27.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$0.95 DZD 127

205.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.20 DZD 26.98

340.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$6.73 DZD 899

698.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.74 DZD 99.1

58.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$0.32 DZD 42.44

81.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$2.35 DZD 314

1.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.33 DZD 44.13

339.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$16.5K DZD 2.2M

27.33%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$30.7K DZD 4.1M

-13.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,125

$20.35 DZD 2,719

212.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿430

$8.95 DZD 1,195

44.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$17.44 DZD 2,330

17.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$17.54 DZD 2,343

122.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$1.55 DZD 208

324.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.2K

$57.6 DZD 7,697

1260.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$3,357 DZD 448.5K

337.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$34.75 DZD 4,642

58.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$56.7 DZD 7,575

-56.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$83.2 DZD 11.1K

13.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$85.2 DZD 11.4K

-13.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$157 DZD 21.0K

211.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$106 DZD 14.1K

173.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$295 DZD 39.4K

202.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$217 DZD 29.0K

139.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$1,103 DZD 147.4K

78.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$357 DZD 47.7K

68.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.5

-14.31%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $157 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 68% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $22.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $194 in Sidi Bel Abbes – so Sidi Bel Abbes wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Sidi Bel Abbes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 72% more than Sidi Bel Abbes, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $812 in Sidi Bel Abbes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sidi Bel Abbes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $57.6 in Sidi Bel Abbes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sidi Bel Abbes, where all-in costs run around $541, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Sidi Bel Abbes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sidi Bel Abbes costs $541 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sidi Bel Abbes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.